MORE AGENDA FIXING

The public hearing on the submitted 2014 budget was also a lively topic Monday night.

I will not go into the verbal report of the CBAC which contained much usable suggestions most of which will be ignored when the Council presents its amended version which will be discussed before submission n to Trenton for approval or relevancy.

The Consultant’s report created some confusion since at one of the budget haring I have been informed they said that it was basically a good document. However on Monday night they felt that the new hires should be reevaluated since most were filling positions which were new or vacant.

They focused on a limited use of the “surplus” which was at one point almost depleted in the 2013 budget.

Confusing is that projects that have been completely funded by grant monies must be listed as an expense even though the grants for 2014 have not been allotted, so the supporting funds  are part of the budget expenses. When the grant is received the funds allotted on that line can be transferred to another line with Council improvement.

It must be noted that although the Council for the two previous years had a consultant; that was an individual in place of the unfilled CFO position. 

This year a CFO is on board. Therefore this year’s Consultant cannot be equated with the previous one. His duty is to make recommendations to the Council members of whom one old timer said was needed because they are not proficient in budget matters.

Mayor Mapp and other members of the Administration especially  Director of Finances Ron West wished to comment on the Consultant’s recommendations as well as CBAC’s but were denied the opportunity. Supposedly the Budget , CBAC’s report and the Consultant’s report will be available on the city site.